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Family and friends are mourning the drowning death of a 4-year-old boy in Highland, whose hand got stuck in the drain of a jacuzzi in his great-grandparents' backyard. Tony Shin reports from Highland for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2014. (Published Friday, May 30, 2014)

Updated at 10:06 AM PST on Saturday, May 31, 2014

Following the death of a 4-year-old boy who drowned in a jacuzzi Friday in Highland, authorities are urging parents to pay close attention to children near pools and spas.

Emergency personnel responded around noon Friday to the 2600 block of Mercedes Avenue after reports of a young boy whose hand was stuck in a backyard spa at his great-grandparents’ house, according to the San Bernardino Fire Department.

The boy was apparently playing a game in which he held his breath as long as he could as his great-grandmother sat nearby. When he didn’t come up for air, the boy’s great-grandmother tried to pull him out but couldn’t because his arm was caught in a drain.

The boy was taken to a hospital but died a short time later.

“Children, they’re just fast and move quickly and they get into stuff they’re not supposed to. We all know that ,” said Capt. Jason Buchanan. “It’s even more important to have constant supervision on any child around any open water source.”

Authorities were investigating why the boy’s hand got stuck in the drain.